End of Universal Credit Uplift Household Budgets
2021-11-08
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from the government's decision to end the £20 universal credit uplift, affecting household budgets across the UK.
What assessment she has made of the potential effect of ending the universal credit uplift on household budgets?
The Government have always been clear that the £20 uplift was a temporary measure to support households affected by the economic shock of covid-19. Now that the economy has reopened, the Government are giving nearly 2 million working households an increase, on average, of £1,000 per year, thanks to the reduction in the universal credit taper rate from 63% to 55% and a £500 increase in the work allowance.
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Assessment & feedback
The assessment of potential effects on household budgets was not directly addressed with specific figures or analysis.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Sheffield households have lost £10 million as a result of the Government's decision to end the universal credit uplift, and there is a backlog in work capability assessments.
More than 9,000 Sheffield households, including 4,500 children, have together lost around £10 million as a result of the Government's decision. There are also deep problems caused by a backlog of work capability assessments. What is being done to clear the backlog and ensure that people with disabilities get the benefits they deserve?
I assure the hon. Gentleman that we are working flat out to ensure that people get their entitlement as speedily as possible, which is certainly the case for the vast majority of people. We saw during the pandemic that universal credit was particularly agile in responding to a huge number of people—hundreds of thousands—who needed support.
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Assessment & feedback
The backlog issue and ensuring benefits for disabled individuals were not addressed with specific actions or timelines.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The UK is experiencing a record high of 1.1 million job vacancies.
We have a record 1.1 million vacancies, and we are cutting the taper rate and raising the income threshold; how many families in North West Durham and throughout the country will benefit?
We are going to see many people—
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Assessment & feedback
The question about family benefits was not addressed; instead, an incomplete response was given.
Incomplete Response
Response accuracy